Work

The role of β-elimination for the clinical activity of hypomethylating agents and cyclophosphamide analogues.

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: ) of cytosine is substituted with a nitrogen atom (N) in 5-aza-cytosine analogues, the critical β-elimination reaction cannot proceed, which results in the permanent attachment of 5-aza-cytosine to DNMT. The net outcome is entrapment of the DNMT by 5-aza-cytosine analogues and its eventual degradation, leading to DNA hypomethylation. Second, we analyze the critical role of β-elimination reaction in the activation of cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide. The incapability of undergoing β-elimination results in reduction of the cytotoxic activity of these agents. It appears that the conversion of aldehyde group, in aldophosphamide metabolites of cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide, to carboxyl group by aldehyde dehydrogenase makes the protons on the carbon atom attached to carboxyl group not acidic enough that can be removed under physiologic conditions via initiation of the critical β-elimination reaction. This ultimately culminates in selective cytotoxic effect of these agents against lymphocytes but not hematopoietic and other stem cells with high aldehyde dehydrogenase content.

Source: PubMed

Authors: Haritha Reddy, Alison Duffy, Noa G Holtzman, Ashkan Emadi

Institutions: University of Maryland, Baltimore, University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center

Language: English

Topic: Epigenetics and DNA Methylation

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Cancer Institute

Award: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND GREENEBAUM CANCER CENTERSUPPORT GRANT